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Galatians 6:10 says that we should "do good to everyone, especially to those who are of the household of faith." I wonder how many people consider this verse from the Christian consumer's point of view? How as Christian customers (consumers) should we interact with Christians in business with whom we trade? I wonder if it's possible to employ Galatians 6:10 in this regard?
I think it's rude of Christians to ignore
good, sound, professional advice from fellow Christians when it comes
to commercial transactions. For example, my Christian Real Estate friend
says that one of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with Christians
is that they almost despise his professional advice. They often tell
him that they have prayed and heard from God that they are miraculously
going to get an unreasonably high price for their house which they wish
to sell. When he says, "OK, if God has told you
that, then I'll list it at that price. But I want you to know that I don't
think your house is worth that much." In his years of real estate sales he has never seen
any such statement supported by the sale of their house at the price
they claimed God said they would get.
Many Christian business people consider it rude when Christian patrons demand a discount or refuse to pay full price. I wonder how many Christian patrons realise that doing good to the household of faith might mean that we are actually a blessing, not a cause for resentment? Now I love a bargain, but I learning to love more being a blessing.
I spoke with a Christian counsellor who said
that often his Christian clients were stunned to discover that they were
expected to pay for their counselling session. Accommodating this he
often made the first appointment free, and charged there after. But most
of his Christian clientel never returned! He went on to lament that for
many Christians who did persist with their counselling they actually
didn't pay their accumulated invoices.
As Christians we should especially be people of good manners. Acknowledging people with a "hello" or a nice greeting is just simple courtesy. Saying "thank you", "please" and "you're welcome" are signs of being good mannered. Christ taught us-
Matt. 5:47 If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. [THE MESSAGE]
Matt. 10:12 “When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting." [THE MESSAGE]
Treating those we deem "lesser" than ourselves
with contempt is most unChristlike. When we ignore certain people because
we deem them less educated/spiritual/cultured than ourselves we are not
being good mannered. A fleeting read of the Gospels shows just how seriously
Christ regarded all people- women, children, and crippled - all those
considered unworthy by the social elite of His day.
Of course it's not just Christian customers who can be rude. Christian employees can be equally inconsiderate when working for a Christian employer. One employer told me that he employed a young Christian man in his business and discovered that instead of working, the young man was preaching to his fellow employees (complete with Bible in hand). When his bewildered employer asked why he wasn't working he replied- I thought you were Christian and realised that saving these lost souls was more important than work- I thought you employed me to witness to them! He was sacked (politely).
The Need...
THE CALL FOR THE REFORMATION OF THE MANNERS...
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Drive courteously
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Patiently wait to be served
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Acknowledge people with a greeting
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Don't demand a discount from a Christian business simply because it is a "Christian" business
- On the other side of the counter...
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Serve customers with courtesy
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Increase your value as an employee to your employer by working diligently and going the "extra mile"
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Don't give non-Christian customers lesser service than you would give any other customer.
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Especially if you are a Christian in business, when you make a commitment- honour it! That means, if you say to a customer that a product will arrive at a certain time, then you are obligated to be right. If you promise a customer to return their phone call "in ten minutes" then you should do it!
-
Andrew
Corbett